The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1887-12-02
TIE NIcEoALg MEETzKa.

1 TIE NICHOLAS MEETING.
-Four hundred and twenty-seyen fac
tual COUNT men, women and children
gathered in the Opera House, Tuesday
evening. to hear an exposition Of The
chaotic state Of political affairs in this
State Is viewed from Z ''reformera'i
standpoint.
i The general tone Of the speeches
delivered by the orators of the evening
was not calculated 10 impress the
many new settlers in our parish with
a favorable opinion of our methods Of
government. If the gentlemen who
GRATED are 10 be believed, the State is
rapidly going to the "demuition bow
vows" and its political machinery is
| prostitnted 70 further the designs of a
sehemiug and unprinciplsd lot of dem
agogues and trickstsrs.
Although Hon. Murphy ]. Foster
has warmed a seat in the State Senate
for the past eight years, he has, up to
the present campaign, reposed in in
efable ignorance of the fact las he
claims) that Republican minority in
the Legislature shaped all enactments
by that body to suit that faction. 1t
is to be regretted that history fails to
inform us that the Hon. Murphy J.
Foster ever raised his resonant voice
in indignant protestation against this
evil while he WIS representing his con-
stituents in that body.
The Hon. Don Gallery, and Hon.
E. ID. White, who followed, dwelt at
some length upon the efforts of the
supporters of Gov. McEnery to ''pull
the wool over the eyes" of the public.
Mr.. Gallery, himself, it seems to us,
is suffering from an aggravated at
tack of political strabismus, SO to
speak. The BUHo has, in its humble
efforts to further the canse of Gov.
McEnery, incurred the displeasure of
Mr.. Gallery to that extent that he, in
the course of his remarks, assumed
the parentage of a pun directed at
this paper. 1t had about the same eff
feet upon the audience that q hard
boiled egg would produce upon dys-
peptlc's stomach. The mere sight of
a copy of the Echo had about the
same effect upon Mr.. Gallery, while
here, that the traditional red rag is
supposed to produce upon an infuri-
ated bull. He has so effectully pulled
the wool over" his own eyes that he is
unwilling to believe that the mission
of the EoHo on earth Is aught but to
consumate a perpetuation of reign of
governmental corruption. The charge
of "wool-pulling" is too far fetched.
1t is an open fact that Gov. McEnery
and his supporters have repeatedly en-
deavored to Jointly discuss all ques-
tions pertaining to the present canvass
with Gen. Nichols and his followers,
and have as often met with disap-
pointment, 1t has been the expressed
desire of the Governor TO give the
public an opportunity to hear these
questions discussed pro and con from
the same rostrum and if the Nichols
faction represents all that is immacu-
late and pure in the Democratic party
why has it repeatedly and perempt,
orily refused to meet this proposition
fairly and openly ?
One of the speakers devoted some
time to the law iDaugurating return
ing boards, and advocated its abolish
ment. This question has been dis
cussed so thoroughly, and is so wei
understood by the people of the State
: that it is useless TO argue the matter
1t is foolishness to assert that you ca
accept the action of the primaries il
one section and not in another an
if return to the old system should b
q permitted, the Lord help not only tn
Democratic party but the State G
Louisiana.
1t The above will give our readers
l. fair outline Of the range of argumer
u presented by the speakers Tuesda
d night. Specific charges against th
e present administration, backed up b
legitimate proofs, were conspicuous b
T. their absence, but "glittenng genera
f tiles" bloomed and blossomed through
out the remarks of the speakers like
, / 0nnHawar in ooadv sof1